People with sight and hearing loss in the Scottish Borders are volunteering to help others in a similar situation.

Nearly 60 people volunteer for BLISS, a Galashiels based sensory service that provides counselling, information and advice.

Many of the volunteers are service users themselves, like RNIB volunteer Karen Maughan.

"I became visually impaired ten years ago after losing the sight in my right eye. There was no support for me there at that time and I felt I really needed someone to talk to.

"I put myself through college for three years and trained as a councillor. It is important for the people I speak to, that they know I've felt the depths of despair that they have, that they see me confident, that I have come through the other side of it, and it installs confidence in them that I can find normality in my life with sight loss."